THEN

Katia

“You can’t be serious!” I cry down the phone to Candy.

“Please, Kat, I need it urgently. If I show to this meeting without it, Marcus will flip.”

“I stood him up,” I whisper urgently. “I crawled out of his bed in the morning, left him a sketchy note and ran. I can’t be seen.”

“He’s in a meeting,” she urges. “He’ll be gone. It’ll be in and out. Please, Kat, I need it.”

God dammit. She wants me to bring a flash drive that has her presentation on it, and it’s sitting on my table. She forgot it this morning after rushing out. Now she wants me to take it in. Into her workplace, which happens to be Marcus’s freaking house. I’m supposed to take all this in, and not be seen by the man I snuck out on.

I’ve never snuck out on anyone, but I had no choice. He is just too dangerous for me. Too sexy. Too intense. Too . . . Marcus. He gave me the best sex of my entire life. God, it was amazing. His mouth, his body, his cock . . . everything. So I freaked out and ran. I can’t afford to have someone like that in my world; there’s just no place for a man as risky as Marcus Tandem.

“Jesus, Candy,” I mutter. “Fine. But if he’s there, I’m going to flip.”

She mumbles ten thank-yous and hangs up. It’s my one day off, and I have to go to my latest fling’s house, after I stood him up three days prior, and pray he isn’t there. With a deep sigh, I walk over to the table and snatch up the flash drive. Then I throw a coat on, take my car keys and drive to Marcus’s house.

~*~*~*~

I see Marcus’s office space for the first time, even though I spent the night at his house. It was clear on my first night half of his massive home had been transformed into an office; I just didn’t know the extent of it. The moment I step through the front doors, I stare, completely shocked this is even part of his house. It’s massive and beautifully set out, so much so that it looks like any normal business.

There’s no way you would guess it’s a house.

A beautiful pine reception desk is the first thing you see, and a young blonde woman sits behind it, her hair tied tightly on her head, glasses perched on her nose, typing frantically. Above her is a large mass of golden letters that spell out Tandem Machines. Such an odd business. I suppose things have to get built somehow—without machines, there’s no way of that happening. It makes sense.

Behind the woman, there are sectioned-off offices, some with glass so you can see right into them, others fully secured. It would appear the business is two stories, because there’s a lift dead center of the room. People are busily typing, phones are ringing and it is, overall, a busy little space. I move my eyes back to the reception desk, and walk in closer.

The blonde woman looks up when I step closer and she flashes somewhat of a fake, but charming smile. “How can I help you this morning?”

“I’m here to drop something off to Candice.” I smile.

“Of course. Her office is the last on the right.”

I nod, and thank her. I step past the desk and quickly hurry down past the rows of offices. I make it to the last on the right, open it and find it empty. God damned Candy!

“Can I help you?”

I turn to face a charming, elderly man. He’s got a warm smile, and a shock of grey hair. His blue eyes study me and his smile widens.

“I’m looking for Candice. I have something for her.”

“Of course, she’s upstairs in the break room.”

Fuck.

“Ah, can you perhaps give it to her?”

He waves a hand. “Go on up, it’s not a problem.”

Dammit.

I walk to the lift, angrily. I punch in the second floor, still shocked there’s a damned lift in Marcus’s house. I step in when the door dings open, and wait as it takes me up. When I step off, I see another few offices. There’s a large one with the title Conference Room and another massive one that has, gulp—Marcus Tandem written in gold letters on the door. I hurry past these and to the room I can see people coming in and out of, with food and coffee.

I step in and see Candy right away, leaning against the counter chatting to a few girls. She notices me and her smile widens. “Oh shit, sorry Kat. I didn’t realize you would be here so soon.”

“Here’s your USB,” I say, thrusting it at her. “I have to leave.”

She laughs, hugs me and I turn, rushing out. I don’t have time to stay here. I am hurrying towards the lift when a door opens, and I kid you not, Marcus and a group of men step out. I skid to a halt, squeak and then throw my hand over my mouth as those gorgeous, dark brown eyes turn to me. I jerk. He jerks and then I do something incredibly stupid.

I run away.

I leap into the lift, shutting the door without looking back. By the time I’m at the bottom floor, I’m shaking. I run through the office and make it to the reception when a booming voice sounds out. “Katia, stop.”

God dammit. 

I leap behind the reception desk, ducking down quickly. The blonde girl stares at me, her mouth opening and closing. I press my finger to my lips, urging her to be silent. I hear footsteps, the front door opens, then closes. A moment later, the same thing happens. I’m staring at the ground, hands clasped, horrified when I hear the sound of a throat being cleared.

Slowly, I look up. Marcus is staring down at me, arms crossed over his broad chest, a blank expression on his face.

“Marcus,” I squeak. “Hi. I was, ah, I thought there was a mouse and—”

“A mouse?” he mutters.

“You work here,” I say, changing the subject. “Wow.”

He cocks an eyebrow and I mentally berate myself for being so damned stupid.

“Stand up, Katia.”

“Okay then,” I mutter, standing.

He reaches over, taking my elbow. Then he leads me back to the lift, up, and to his office. I pass Candy as we go, and her mouth drops open. I glare at her, a truly scathing glare, and mouth horrible things I’m going to do to her. She simply smiles, waves and disappears. That bitch.

Marcus closes his office door and I peer around the room. It’s very professional. A large wooden desk, sofa, bookshelves, a big floor-to-ceiling window, and its very own bathroom. Fancy.

“Nice office.”

“Thanks for the shag.”

I cringe.

“The note said,” his voice is like ice, “Thanks for the shag.”

It was funny at the time. Now, God, now it sounds like I paid him to fuck me. I turn, staring at him with a sheepish smile.

“Ha-ha,” I force a smile.

He glares at me. “Thanks. For. The. Shag.”

“It’s apparent you’ve never been snuck out on in your life, I’m extremely sorry to be your first, however I’m really busy and I have to—”

“Stop speaking, Katia.”

“Okay.”

I bite my lips and stare at his tie. Dark blue this time. Hot.

“You came into my house. You fucked me. You ran out before I woke up.”

“Wrong,” I point out. “You brought me into your house, you fucked me, and then I ran out.”

The look he gives me tells me he doesn’t, not even a little, find my sass funny.

“You always fuck men and run?”

“That’s rich, coming from the king of fuck and run.”

The corners of his eyes crinkle slightly.

“Don’t smile, Marcus,” I mutter.

His hard expression comes back. “Dinner, tonight at seven.”

I blink at him.

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen.”

“Dinner—”

“Marcus, seriously. It was fun and all but—”

“Tonight—” he continues.

“Marcus!” I cry. “This isn’t going to happen.”

“At seven,” he finishes.

“Are you mental?” I cry, crossing my arms.

“I’ll pick you up.”

“Jesus!” I snap. “You are mental.”

“Be careful, Katia,” he warns.

I narrow my eyes at him. “We had fun, really. You were great in bed, but I don’t have time to date and I certainly don’t have time to date someone like you.”

“Dress nice,” he says, turning and dismissing me.

My mouth drops open. “Seriously?” I squeak.

Suddenly the door opens and two men step in.

“Escort her out.”

“Marcus!” I snap.

“Tonight, Katia. Don’t be late.”

Then, just like that, I’m dismissed.

Fucking Marcus Tandem.